Cessna T210M accident near Marcola, Oregon, August 29, 1999
On August 29, 1999 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N747CC, was destroyed in an accident near Marcola, Oregon. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while descending in an area of deteriorating weather. Factors include mountainous terrain, clouds, low ceilings, the pilot's inadequate preflight weather analysis, and his improper decision to attempt to continue on to his planned destination after encountering deteriorating weather.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1999 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marcola, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N747CC · registry record · serial 21061636
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, whom records show did not make use of FAA or DUATS weather briefing services prior to departure, encountered deteriorating weather while en route from King City, California, to Aurora, Oregon. Upon encountering the weather, the pilot initiated a descent through 'multiple cloud layers' in order to attempt to continue on to his planned destination. Near the last part of the descent, while entering an area of mountainous/hilly terrain, the aircraft collided with trees on a densely forested hillside. Witness reported clouds, low ceilings, and rain showers in the area at the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 210 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,688 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1999; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KIC King City CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 3S2 Aurora State OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from EUG, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.